Researchers from La Rochelle Université and the Universidade de Vigo have published a review in the scientific journal Marine Drugs as part of the SMACC+ project, exploring the potential of microalgae and cyanobacteria as innovative sources of bioactive ingredients for dermocosmetics and skin health.
Entitled “Beyond Beauty: Microalgae and Cyanobacteria as Next-Generation Platforms for Functional Dermocosmetics, Cutaneous Delivery, and Skin Health”, the review examines how these microorganisms can provide valuable bioactive compounds and innovative systems for skin applications.
The publication analyses a range of substances derived from microalgae and cyanobacteria, including carotenoids, peptides, polysaccharides and specialised pigments. These compounds show potential for supporting skin hydration and barrier function, protecting against ultraviolet radiation and oxidative stress, modulating inflammation, and contributing to antimicrobial activity and skin repair.
The review also highlights emerging developments in the field, including microalgae-derived extracellular vesicles, photoactivated antimicrobial systems, photosynthetic hydrogels, microneedle patches and artificial-intelligence-assisted formulation. These advances illustrate the potential of microalgae and cyanobacteria to move beyond conventional natural extracts towards innovative ingredients and delivery systems for dermocosmetic applications.
While these developments offer promising perspectives for research and innovation, the authors emphasise that further validation is needed to establish their effectiveness and safety in human applications. Standardisation, effective delivery systems, stability and scalable manufacturing will also be essential to support their future development.
This scientific contribution highlights the role of research and collaboration in advancing innovative, science-based solutions for the cosmetics sector. Within the SMACC+ project, it also showcases the potential of biological resources to inspire new approaches to dermocosmetics and skin health.
Read the full review in Marine Drugs:
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/24/10/359
About SMACC+
Co-funded under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Interreg Atlantic Area programme, SMACC+ has a total budget of €2.8 million, of which €2.1 million is co-financed by the ERDF. The project represents a strategic collaboration across nine European partners, combining expertise from academia, research institutions, and industry. The academic and research partners include Universidade de Vigo (Lead Partner, Spain), University College Dublin (Ireland), La Rochelle Université (France), Instituto Tecnológico de Canarias – ITC (Spain), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança (Portugal), and University of Galway (Ireland), Algae For Future - A4F (France) and Alga Biologics (Ireland) and Finnova Foundation (Spain). Additionally, this project counts with the support from its associated partners: Xunta de Galicia, Cosmetic Valley, Cantabria Labs, Aqualgae and Cabildo de Gran Canaria. Together, these partners integrate complementary scientific, technical, and industrial expertise to advance sustainable bioactive compound development and eco-friendly biotechnology solutions.
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